New Jersey granted $1.94bn financing to improve resiliency of water infrastructure

US state New Jersey has been granted permission for Critical Drinking Water and Infrastructure Resiliency Projects amounting to $1.94bn.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed legislation which authorises funding for the projects, which reinforces environmental commitments and upgrades water infrastructure in the state.

Of the allotted funding, $776m will be used to upgrade the facilities in order to withstand natural calamities including storms and flooding.

The projects are aimed at improving resiliency of the facilities following Superstorm Sandy.

Christie said: "There can be no compromise when it comes to the integrity of the State’s water infrastructure systems and the impact they have on our communities and our environment.

"Through this legislation, more than 280 projects will be authorised for low-interest loans and no-interest financing that will make infrastructure throughout New Jersey more storm-resilient, enhance and protect the state’s water quality, and create jobs and advance economic development."

Around $185m has been allotted for the Middlesex County Utilities Authority which will be used for restoration of Sayreville and Edison pump stations, upgrading the county’s wastewater treatment plant, and for precautionary steps to ensure protection against future flooding.

Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission has been granted nearly $78m for repairs and upgrades to infrastructure.

Over $72m has been allotted for the ongoing restoration and resiliency projects under the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority in Union Beach, while Atlantic City has received more than $33m to build a sea wall and better resiliency of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority treatment plant.

The state has also allotted around $16m for developing wet weather pumping stations and up to $30m for storm water and green infrastructure to tackle flooding issues in Hoboken.

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Image: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed legislation authorising up to $1.94bn in state financing for critical drinking water and infrastructure resiliency projects. Photo: courtesy of David Shankbone / Wikipedia.